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Now Open: Resilience Innovation through Scaling Entrepreneurship Urban Challenge

Deadline: 11 April 2025

The Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) is launching the Resilience Innovation through Scaling Entrepreneurship (RISE) Urban Challenge to convert idea- and concept-level innovative ideas that are meeting resilience needs in urban informality contexts and scale them to sustainable ideas.

The RISE Urban Challenge provides customised support to maximise each initiative’s potential for impact and aligns potential funders to these initiatives and drive attention to the urgent need for urban systems transformation. They are looking for innovative entrepreneurs, who can design impactful solutions addressing these unique urban informality challenges.

Focus Areas

  • The RISE Urban Challenge seeks to convert idea- and concept-level innovative ideas that are meeting resilience needs in urban informality contexts and scale them to sustainable ideas. Proposals should focus on enhancing resilience to those most vulnerable to climate shocks and stresses, promoting gender equity, and preserving biodiversity, while driving sustainable livelihoods and economic growth. This initiative prioritises locally led innovations that build the resilience of women and youth

Funding Information

  • The finalists of the RISE Urban Challenge will receive tailored mentoring support up to September 2025, provided by GRP. This mentoring phase will focus on refining their projects and ensuring they are well-prepared for successful implementation. Winners will be awarded prizes up to US$50,000, which will support their scaling and implementation over 12 months up to December 2026. The projects will continue to receive mentoring support, through December 2026, and will be required to report progress to GRP.

Eligibility Criteria

  • To be eligible an application must meet the following criteria:
    • The solution must address resilience needs in urban informality contexts.
    • The Challenge is open to both nonprofit and for-profit registered organisations.
    • Be located in low- and middle-income countries (eligible for Official Development Assistance as defined by the OECD-DAC).
    • The team has proven experience implementing innovative solutions for resilience.
    • Gender, equity and human rights considerations are included.
    • The solution does no harm (i.e., has no negative impacts on communities it is designed to build resilience in).

For more information, visit GRP.